The main objective is to provide centralized analytical resources that will enhance and develop the research capabilities of the UM-SRP by providing expertise and state-of-the-art resources in the areas of 1) separation capabilities of complex contaminant mixtures of a variety of phthalate toxicants, their metabolites, and their degradation products, and 2) analytical quantification of the concentration of these compounds in the selected samples.
Centralized resources in these research areas are critical to address the impact of known toxicants in complex mixtures on both identified biomedical and environmental endpoints for the UM-SRP projects. Establishment of a coordinated effort in the form of the RSC will maximize the research and cost effectiveness of the UM-SRP and will serve to better integrate data and technology sharing. The Core will also be critical to our effort to ensure proper, unified data management and quality control. The structure of the RSC and its major tasks were carefully planned in order to address the emerging initiatives and demands of individual investigators.
Services of the RSC will be accessible through our two Sub-Cores: 1) Toxicant Extraction and Separation from Complex Mixtures and 2) Analytical Quantification of Toxicants in Biomedical and Environmental Samples. These two intimately linked Sub-Cores, which will exploit the advanced analytical services enabled via the RSC, and the services they provide, were the unanimous choice of the Project Leaders of individual research project proposals; these leaders were surveyed to identify the research areas that would best support the requirements of their projects, identifying these services. The choice of these services also coincides with the NIEHS emphasis on new and innovative technologies.
Specific Aims of the Research Support Core
Provide services in analytical extraction and separation of phthalates and associated toxicants in biomedical, environmental, and laboratory-prepared samples
The Extraction and Separation Sub-Core will provide state-of-the-art services to the UM-SRP program in the quantitative extraction and separation of phthalates, their metabolites, and breakdown products from complex biomedical and environmental samples. Extraction of these toxicants has proven to be challenging due to the prevalence of these materials in commonly used plastic items (e.g., pipettes). We will adapt a variety of extraction methods designed to avoid sample contamination and exploit advanced analytical separations methods for both gas and liquid chromatographies to achieve maximal toxicant separation.
Provide services in highly accurate analytical quantification of phthalates and associated toxicants
The Quantification Sub-Core will provide state-of-the-art mass spectrometric characterization of phthalates, their metabolites, and their breakdown products in all samples of the UM-SRP team. Mass spectrometry is the ideal analysis to confirm toxicant identity and assist in elucidation of metabolites and breakdown products observed in biomedical samples (Projects 1 and 2) and in photocatalytic degradation analyses (Project 4). These methods will also be critical for the development of novel sensing platforms for these toxicants (Project 3).
The types and levels of support offered by the Core are diverse. Most of the time, the services will involve extensive and state-of-the-art analytical services for quantitative extraction, separation, and quantification of phthalates, their metabolites, and their breakdown products; however, we will also offer training and consultations on study design and execution. This is designed to maximize research analyses for the individual projects, leading to direct connections between the Research Support Core and the research teams of the individual project of the UM-SRP.